Review: Shattered Glass (12A)

11:31am Wednesday 12th May 2004

When talented young journalist Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen) first appears on screen he is a wide-eyed recruit, extolling the virtues of his profession with an unassuming humility.

A favourite among colleagues, who regularly seek his advice, Glass possesses a knack for getting the colourful stories whether they be about drunken young Republicans or a computer hacker hired by a software giant.

But his career comes crashing to a spectacular halt when it was revealed that the majority of his articles had been either wholly or partially fabricated. The ensuing investigation called the very nature of journalism and trust into question.

Based on a true story, Shattered Glass is a compelling and insightful look into the man behind the stories, as well as the journalists who exposed them, and the impact it had on the profession.

It is one of the most honest portrayals of the profession to date, placing it on a par with All The President's Men (which it references).

Christensen does a remarkable job of presenting the cold-hearted desire of Glass, a figure who became seduced by his own celebrity. Once the truth about the hacker article had come out, Glass's editor Charles Lane's (Peter Sarsgaard) own unstinting dedication to journalism compels him to uncover the extent of Glass's betrayal.

The film never becomes preachy or sentimental and refrains from employing too much artistic licence, strengthening the overall impact and making it an unmissable experience.

Review by Rob Carnevale

Editor's choice